Does USB Network cards work?

[xawen]

stu2j Wrote:When it comes to streaming video, wireless is a complete waste of time and money.

If you want it for something else (such as transferring files etc) then more power to you but if you think you are going to be able to stream video (any video) think again.

Please don't tell my PCH that. It's currently having no issues streaming any movie in my collection over a 802.11G bridge. That includes several pretty big 1080p files. I wouldn't want it to find out it's doing the impossible

[stu2j]

Quote:It's currently having no issues streaming any movie in my collection over a 802.11G bridge... includes several pretty big 1080p files

Tell it to someone who doesn't know any better.

[jimbo]

WirelessG = 54mbps - ideally and with no encryption overhead
NFS streaming ~33mbps
HTTP streaming ~42mbps

If you look at the math you should be able to stream a full 1080p file via wireless just as well as you would via ethernet as long as that signal is strong enough to get you the top rated speed. Considering the beta firmware should support the Atheros chip but doesn't have any encryption it should work just fine.

I know someone that is using a wirelessN bridge without any problems at all with WPA2. I'd say for a lot of people who don't have an already networked house wireless is a completely viable and ideal solution.

[stu2j]

jimbo Wrote:wireless is a completely viable and ideal solution.

I can tell you the stove it hot. If you really need to get burned to find out then be my guest.

You can run out and buy all the wireless equipment you like and in the end the video streaming will suc and you will be looking for something else. It isn't the mbps that is the problem, there are just too many things that can affect/interrupt a wireless signal.

Good luck.

[finger]

xawen Wrote:Please don't tell my PCH that. It's currently having no issues streaming any movie in my collection over a 802.11G bridge. That includes several pretty big 1080p files. I wouldn't want it to find out it's doing the impossible

Yeah same, maybe I was dreaming last night when I streamed Harry potter 1080p over wireless.... :lol: :lol:

[Flaxkikaren]

So it works to stream a 1080p over wireless then? I need to know so i know what to buy

And a USB wireless stick i of no use yet in the PCH before the firmware update?

And if so, when shold we expect this firmware update? And MUST i order that "special" USB stick from Popcorn or will another stick work as well?


just to verify...

thanks
Fredrik

[xawen]

Ok, here's my opinion from MY experience...ymmv and as you can see opinions vary.

802.11G has the bandwidth to carry a 1080p movie, that's a simple fact. I've never tried a non-compressed bluray original rip (around 24 gig). I do watch a lot of 1080p mkv files that are around 10-12 gigs with no issues.

The variable is wireless network stability. My wireless network is very solid. I have family whose cordless phones cause interference with their wireless connection, and others with really (I mean really) crappy wireless APs. They have all kinds of problems just browsing the Internet. Obviously if you have a poor connection, you will not have a great experience.

I do have signal drops from time to time while watching (pretty rare). When it happens either the PCH will stutter, or it will desync playback and I will need to restart the movie. Since my network is setup in a way that these drops are rare, they don't really bother me.

The simple answer is, yes 802.11G can handle most 1080p movies IF you have a good connection.

[stu2j]

Flaxkikaren Wrote:So it works to stream a 1080p over wireless then?

I strongly suggest you look around the net for information on this. The problem with wireless is that you are NEVER going to get a continuous quality signal.

""I do have signal drops from time to time""

This is what you can expect and there will be times when it is much worse than others. If you don't mind the movie taking a break at the most climatic scene.. go for it.

[Flaxkikaren]

but i will have more luck with a 802.11N setup, right?

Fredrik

[xawen]

Flaxkikaren Wrote:but i will have more luck with a 802.11N setup, right?
Fredrik

It still depends on your environment. Without knowing if you have a solid wireless connection today, there's no way to be 100% sure. As mentioned in this thread there are a lot of signal quality variables. My network already existed, so I was able to know it would work going in. Do you know anyone that has equipment you can borrow to test?

stu2j Wrote:If you don't mind the movie taking a break at the most climatic scene.. go for it.

Dude, I don't know what wireless did to you, but it must have been bad. Some people (fortunately, myself included) have had really good luck with it. Yeah, I do see the occasional (like once every few weeks) blip while watching a movie. In my book, that beats tearing up my walls to run a cable or spending $300 on a pair of quality HomePlug adapters. Not everyone is going to have my good luck, and not everyone is going to have wireless let them down as badly as it seems you did. The best we can do is try to keep it neutral and give people the information to make their own decision.

[stu2j]

xawen Wrote:Dude, I don't know what wireless did to you,

Wireless did nothing to me. My wireless network works just fine thank you. For taking a laptop out by the pool or for streaming general content it works great.

However, for streaming quality video, you need a reliable -continuous quality signal- and that just isn't going to happen with a wireless device. Hell, anybody that has used a bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard can attest to the annoying signal loss at just two feet away. It just happens. Any decent review of wireless video streaming will point out the flaws and the A/V forums are choc full of folks who have tried and failed.

If folks want to give it a shot, I certainly encourage them to do so. They will soon discover what so many before them have discovered..... wires are wonderful things....

Enjoy!

[Krieg]

I register only to confirm that *I* can stream quality video wireless using my AppleTV. It took me a while and it was a headache at the beginning because I was using crappy hardware (the router my ISP gave me), I tried different things but always got problems. I solved all my problems by using a good router (a Linksys WRT model), later I used a custom firmware but with the stock firmware was still enough.

I do get once in a very while a 2 seconds delay (lets say once or twice a month), mainly during the nights and/or with bad weather.

The user stu2j has a very bad attitude, that he did not manage to get a good setup does not mean that it is not possible.

[stu2j]

Quote:The user stu2j has a very bad attitude,

I don't have a bad attitude (of course, I am tempted to comment on AppleTV but will let that pass)

Anyone that wants to try it... be my guest and best of luck to ya.

[stu2j]

Flaxkikaren Wrote:but i will have more luck with a 802.11N setup, right?

In theory this is correct. Faster speeds at great distances. However, speed and distance aren't generally the problem so much as signal reliability. In the real world, when it comes to streaming video, nobody cares if it is 300mbps or 50mbps .. what is needed is (are you ready for it) a -continuous reliable signal-. Trust me, everyone is chasing this.... google Wireless HD to find out more.... of course, that is a complete waste to the folks here for which wireless g is working just fine...

[rfrost]

I have a PCH connected to an UltraWAP wireless bridge which has a better performance record than many other bridges.

I dont want to lower my wireless network's security to WEP to get multi MAC proper bridging so I can bridge more than 1 physical device plugged into a switch at the UltraWAP bridge end. I am using the UltraWAP's client infrastructure bridge mode to preserve my WAP security.

The UltraWAP runs embedded linux and has had a great performance record against rival bridges..

It sells for $AU 99 in Australia :

http://store.freenet-antennas.com/produc...cts_id=218

The problem I have found sometimes is buffering with Internet delivered content. Content delivered off my HD wirelessly via my laptop is flawless.

It would be great to have an onscreen buffer (increase) buffer (decrease) option to streaming media, while watching movies so you can tune the buffer accordingly ;-)

Cheers
Richard